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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Burns are injuries to tissue that can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, electricity, or other means. Burns can be minor medical problems or life-threatening emergencies.
Burn treatment depends on the severity and size of the burn. You can treat most minor burns at home using first-aid measures, such as cooling the skin and applying an anesthetic cream or aloe gel to the burn. Deep or widespread burns need immediate medical attention.
You can reduce your risk of common household burns by being prepared and taking precautionary steps, such as keeping lighters and matches out of the reach of children and checking your smoke detectors yearly.
- Sheridan RL. Thermal injuries. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2974407. Accessed Feb. 1, 2010.
- Singer AJ, et al. Thermal burns. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00060-8. Accessed Feb. 1, 2010.
- Morgan ED, et al. Treatment of minor thermal burns. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 1, 2010.
- Rice PL Jr. Emergency care of moderate and severe thermal burns in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 1, 2010.
- Burns. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec21/ch315/ch315a.html?qt=burns&alt=sh#. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
- Burns: Avoiding household burns. American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www3.acep.org/patients.aspx?id=25990. Accessed Feb. 3, 2010.
- Mass casualties: Burns. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/burns.asp. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
- Claypool DW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 22, 2010.
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